Boxing fans have just under a month to wait until Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury collide for their fiercely anticipated rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The pair locked horns for the undisputed heavyweight crown earlier this year, when Oleksandr Usyk claimed all four major titles with a scintillating performance.
But while the Ukrainian came close to stopping his rival in the ninth round, he was forced to settle with a split decision victory after Tyson Fury showcased his tremendous powers of recovery.
Needless to say, the Brit is now looking to exact revenge on the unified heavyweight champion, who currently holds three belts after vacating his IBF title.
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Kevin Lerena shares encouraging picture with Tyson Fury on social media
Ahead of their first encounter, Fury was compelled to reduce his sparring after suffering a cut above his right eye.
The injury ultimately forced their showdown – originally scheduled for February earlier this year – to be pushed back by several months.
But still, former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, Fury’s assistant trainer, has claimed that his fighter’s preparation was nonetheless hampered by the injury.
At the time, it was rumored that WBC bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena had caused the nasty gash during an intense sparring session, though there is little evidence to suggest that the incident took place.
Regardless, Lerena has been invited back to the 36-year-old’s camp, hoping to emulate Usyk with his similar body dimensions and awkward southpaw style.
“Camp Life is in full swing,” Lerena wrote on Instagram. “Just one month left until the Unified Heavyweight Championship of the World.
“The energy in the gym is electric. Preparation meets determination, desire [and] the will to succeed! In the lab grinding away.”
- Read More [Dillian Whyte explains why Tyson Fury ‘needs to be very careful’ in Oleksandr Uysk rematch]
Kevin Lerena looks to defend his WBC bridgerweight title against Jake Paul
While assisting Fury in training camp, Lerena has joined several more active and retired boxers by expressing his desire to fight YouTube star Jake Paul who, of course, comes off a controversial victory over Mike Tyson.
The South African is perhaps best known for his brave performance against Daniel Dubois in 2022, flooring the current IBF world heavyweight champion three times before suffering a third-round stoppage defeat.
Since then, Lerena has claimed the WBC trinket at bridgerweight, a relatively unknown division between heavyweight and cruiserweight.
And so, ‘The KO Kid’ believes that his world title should give Paul enough of an incentive to step into the ring with him.